Armrest



C. B. DOTY ARM REST 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 11, 1947 C. B. DOTY ARM REST Filed April ll, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

c/yf/J 5.20113. BY

Aug. 7, i951 c. B. Dow 2,562,222

v ARM REST FiledApril 11, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 7, 1951 ARMREST Y Clifford B.v Doty, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Brig-gs `Manufacturing' Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of .Michigan Application April 11, 1947, Serial N0. 740,857

s claims. (ci. 155-198) This invention relates to arm rests for vehicle bodies and in particular `to-arm rests adapted to be attachedto-the doors of automobile bodies, such as the front doors. An arm rest constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention provides not only ak convenient and comfortable rest for the arm of the 'car passengenor'driver but also a hand grip member capable of Ybeing readily grasped to pull the door closed.v e

An object of the invention is to v'provide an arm rest having aiframefcf limproved construction for supporting the padding and upholstery material, such frame being fabricated vprincipally from a number of components stamped or pressed metal parts whichl may be economically manufacturedV and easily'asse'mbled `to provide a strong and rigid hollowframe.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arm restshaped to form a hand grip and comprising a hollow framefformed principally of two angularlyshaped stampings which may be secured together in opposed -relation to provide a channel shaped 'member'open at its top and adapted to support in yimproved manner a top layer of padding, lsuch as 'sponge rubber, which together with the irame'is covered with a suitable fabric material. v

Another 'object 'of ythe inventionds to provide an arm rest comprising apadded, fabric covered upwardly opening channel shaped4 frame and improved means for attaching opposite ends of the frame kto the vehicle door. In accordance with the preferred embodiment Aof the invention attached through concealed means directly to the inner trim panel'ofithe door, the attaching means-for one =end,suchv Aas the `front end, of the arm rest, however,I including a device by means of-which'theiarmrrest may also be directly and releasably attached to the inner metal door panel. As a result of this improved .construction the pull on'the arm rest, whenfit is grasped to pull the door closed, is largely trans- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary inside' elevation of the the ends of the arm rest are mounted upon and mitted' directly to the metaldoor panel since 2 t t Y v front door of an automobile body having attached thereto an arm rest constructed inwaccordance with one embodiment of the invention Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken substantially through lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking'in the direction of lthe arrows. i Fig. 3 is 'an enlarged-section taken Vsubstantially through lines 3-+3 of Fig. llooking in the directionl of the arrows; f f .g

Figlfi is a plan view ofthe arm rest frame with the Vpaddingancl upholstery removed..

Fig. 5vis a fragmentary section taken sub/- stantially through lines 5-'501' Fig. 3 looking-in the direction of thearrows.. a f- Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken substantiallythroughlines 6 6v of Fig'. 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows. 5 "1' Fig. 7 isafragmentaryside elevation, partly broken away, illustrating the manner ofV attachng the frontend of the arm rest to the vehicle oor. l v, y Fig. 8 is a front side-elevation of the structure showninFig. 4. 1

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary "section'taken substantially through 1ines'9' 9 of.r Fig.8 looking in th directionof the 'arrowsf r 1 Fig. 10 is anI 'exploded' view illustrating .in perspective the component parts of the arm rest framef l 'I Before explaining'indetail the present'invention it Vis to be `understood that the invention is not limited-in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of vparts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capableY of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedyherein is for the purpose of description and `not of limitation.

There is illustrated in the drawings, byway of example. an armrest A constructedin ac. cordance with one, embodiment ofthe present invention .andA yadapted. to be. attached to the inside. of a vehicle door, such as the front door B of an automobile body.E The arm rest of the present embodiment comprises a hollow upwardly opening channel shaped frame preferably fabrilcated from a number /ofcomponent parts which, as shown' in 10; are inthe form ofmetal stampings. This framecomprises an inner angle frame member'll and an outer angle frame member I2 which' are correspondingly curvedor bowed inwardly of the door so as Vto enablethe armrest to vservethe-purposes of both an arm rest and a handgrip. F:The=:inner framememz 3` ber II is generally in the form of an angle and comprises a bottom flange IIa and an upwardly extending side wall IIb which is provided throughout its length with a channel or groove I Ic of suitable depth. Similarly, the outer frame member I2 is generally in the form of an angle having a bottom flange I2a and an upright side wall I2b whichis formed throughout its length with a groove or channel I2c of suitable depth. The marginal edge IId of the bottom flange IIa has a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the marginal edge I2d of the bottom flange I2a and when the two frame members Il and I2 are assembled together,A as illustrated in Fig. 4, these edges are arranged in rabutting or opposed relationship and may, if desired, be

tab Ia engages smoothly the inner surface of the channel portion I2c of the frame member I2 and is spot welded thereto. The tab Ib engages smoothly the inner surface of the channel or groove portion IIc and is spot welded thereto. The closure plate I8 is provided with two inwardly extending laterally spaced tabs IBd .Whichgareilanced out..ol 'metalpf the plate. The upper z'surfaces of these tabslie inthe plane of the upper surfaces of the channel portions "-I-Ic and I2c so as to provide therewith rests slightly spaced apart as shown in Figgfl. The A: bottom flange I2a of the frame member I2 is o,

provided centrally thereof with a projecting tab I3 which is offset upwardly to the thickness of -the metal so as to over-liethe bottom flange JI Ia, `thereby :causing Vthe 'flanges IfI'a and SI2a lto lie flush' with each other.' The 'tab I3 secured tothe flange I'I Ia 'by vspot welding; -iInterposed vbetweenV the frame 4members I1 -and I 2, :centrally thereof, is a channel braceor tie pieceI4 p roe vided with depending side 'flan-ges 14a abutting against the channel portions' I'I'c :and I2c -and spot welded thereto. The aside flanges Ila of the'channelbrace vare'curved'to conform to the curvature -zo'f the -sidefwalls rof 'the frame' members, land 'asa resultthechannel brace 'has a Esnug and unlforz'n''flt against the inner surfaces of the channel portionsi-Iflc and I2C. `'lh'e 'top web-'of the brace Ill',v as shown `in Fig. 2, lies illushfwith the *top `surfaces of l'the channel portions IIc and I2c. N

' ""I'he open Vfront lend of fthe "frame members II fand I2, vnfhenv assembled together, is closed by'means of a front connecting `'piece SI5 Awhich is insertable between the upright side walls'ffllb Aand I2b 'as shown in Fig. 4. lThe 'frontend closure piece I5 is provided with a cur-ved lprojecting tab or tongueISa engagingv smoothly the 'inner' curved surface of `the groovek or channel I2c. The closure piece -Ifalso has a projecting ycurved tab V|512 engagingsmoothly the inner sur- Vfa'ce'of the channel or `groove '-IIc. 'The tabs lia and I5b, as shown'in Fig. 10,projectffrom opposite'side edges ofthepiecefli an'dare Aspot weldedto the side walls ofthe frameV members at vthe locality of tle Ecllanne'l or groove portions 11e and I2c." Projecting from the 'lowerl edge offtheclosurre pice IBj'is 'atab YHic which overlies the bottom flangesI IIa 'and 12a and is lspot welded thereto. Lancedout of the metal of the closurepiece I5 is ata'b'I'Sd whichextends' 'a suitable distancejinwardly :into the vspace between the iframe i'nembers.V ,The upper surface E ofthe" tat4 |511 ues in the'plane'offthe .upper surfacesof .the channelgportionsf,I'Ic and,y I2C vand forms .therewith a support for `thearm rest pad Yasfluereinafter ypointed out.V The 'closure plateJLhasa .holesII registerngwitha. tapped holein ascrew boss .-llwhichthrough. the me.- dium of its .base Ila .is secured '.to .theinside .of the plate'fIS as by Ameans :of spot welding.`

' ppen rear tend of theframe members .III and-d-2 is closed 4by-means of a 'closure plate I8 which,4 asV in the casevlof the closureplate I5, connects the ends of theV frame `members vtogethe'rl As s'howniin Figs.4 and'lpthe closure plate' I`f8 `is 'provided' latpppositefedges with inwardlyfrproiecting curved tabsk IBa mid Ibz- The for the arm rest pad. Projecting from the lower edge of the plate I8 is a tab I8c which overlies '-the Vbottom flanges 'IIa and I2a of the frame 15 I-B rhas Iahole I9 registering with a tapped hole rrin a screw boss4 2,8Y secured through the medium membersian'dfis spot welded thereto. The plate of its base 2a to the inside of the plate I8, as by'nxeans of spot welding.

The upper side of the arm rest is cushioned kby means of` a '.padfsupported :uponfa -foundation 'strip' 2 I`:of SultaDle'materlaL'suCh as ber board. The foundation strip, as shownfin Figs. .2 and23, -lits fbetween Ithe .upper 'edges :ofxthe;side walls of the Aframe members l'II' and 'I2 'and,vfaccordingly, thefedges of the foundationstrip are contoured so as'to have'the curvature auf fthese'side walls. The foundation 'strip' fat opposite ends rests 'upon the tabs 15d and I`8d. l'hei'cdgesVV of 'the foundation strip rest upon the uppersurfaces `c'f the inwardly directedchannel'pmftions IIe-and I2c and 'the central portionfof the 'foundation strip engages the 'upper .surface of'the .channel `brace I4. "Mounted 'uponwthe foundation strip 2`IY ls a pad or `cushion v22 which is"preferably 'formed o'f sponge rubber.; @If-desiredyfthe '.pad 22 may be lcemented Jtothe folmdation strip '2I so .as to facilitate assem'hlyfwiththe' frame' 'structure' of the-armrest. w f Y. Y

1 Extending withinf the 'channel "or -groove Vpor@ tion 'I2c 'of kthe frame Amember` I2 4is .a ytaclring strip "23. Th'is 1ta'cklng"strlp' preferably extends thezfull dength"of"=thefframe member I2 and is secured in vplace'bryfstzaples'- vAlso'staple'ad to the outer "faceof theifrontend:closureplate I5 is a tackn'g istrip 24.' Similarly; a tacking strip 26 isstapled'to thevou'ter face vof the 4rear `end closure plate I8. r: l ff After the tacking'strlps'l, 24 anil25have'b'een attached lnposltion 'and-thelpad 22 with its foundation strip-2| installed a's'zshown ln Fig. '2, the entireassembly vlscoverel 'with 1upholstenr cloth 'or fabric 26.` The fabrlciis drawn taut around fthe" assemblyandVv the ":ove'rlapped' en'ds tacked securely-to the tacking strip 23.' After the 'f'abri'c' 26 'has been secured vln position-an ornamental 'metal moldin'gstrlp f21, preferably channel shaped :in crc'ss' section,4 is forced into the groove or chaniiell Ic so'asto drawthe cloth tautlaroundthe frontor'exposed inner side of the arm rest.l Ihends of 4'the `fmoldlng 'have Preietng Dmon?. rhichjar, bentback upon themselves andclinchedarounmd the ends of the frame member. I I.i asshown at 21a lnLFig..5. These ends .ofthe bassthrpughslits in the .tacking strips V2.4 9.11625.. v A.

The arm rest, afs-preferably constructed `in the alcove manner, is attached tothe inner removable door trim panel which in lturnais attached in the usual mannerrby -fastener-devicesf-to the inner metal ldoor 'partiel-28,` see Fig. i3;` This door panel inthe `--pr-esent instance has :anwoutwardly emJ bossed portion 28a-.belowlwhich'lsfa layer'V of filler material .129.,` isuchfiaszfj-ute, to :the panel.

The inside trim panel, which lcovers the metal door panel 23, is of any conventional construction comprising, for example, a foundation board 30 of fibrous material to which is cemented a fabric covered layer ofV padding or wadding 3l. Mounted against the back side of the foundation board 30 cf the trim panel is an attaching plate or bar 32 which may be ribbed or channelled centrally for reinforcement purposes. This plate or bar is secured to the trim panel and also to the arm rest through the medium of a screw 33 threaded into the screw boss Il. The attaching plate 32 at its upper end has a spirng hook 34 terminating in an outwardly and downwardly inclined pilot extension 34a. In attaching the upper end of the plate or bar 32 to the inner door panel 28 the pilot portion 34a is inserted through an aperture 35 and the hook 34 is drawn down tightly so as to grip the lower edge of the metal below the aperture 35, as shown in Fig. 3. The lower end of the plate or bar 32 has an outwardly and downwardly inclined tongue 36 which passes through an aperture 37 in the inner door panel. When installing the arm rest the portions 34a and 36 are inserted through the apertures 35 and 3l and then the arm rest is forced down to clamp it into position.

The rear end of the arm rest is attached directly to the trim panel 3D, 3l in the manner shown in Fig. 6. This is accomplished by means of a screw 38 passing through the trim panel and threaded into the screw boss 20. The head of the screw engages a large metal washer 39. From the foregoing it will, therefore, be seen that when the arm rest is installed on the door the forward end thereof, as shown in Fig. 3, is attached both to the trim panel as well as the inner metal door panel whereas the rear end of the arm rest is only attached directly to the trim panel. It will be understood that the arm rest is first mounted upon the trim panel in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and when the trim panel is installed on the door through the usual spring snap fasteners the attaching plate 32 is also installed on the inner metal door panel 28.

I claim: Y

1. An arm rest for a vehicle body, comprising a longitudinally curved upwardly opening channel shaped frame having opposite side walls formed with longitudinal grooves to provide seats, a cushion pad tting into the upper part of said frame and resting on said seats, fabric material covering said frame and pad, and a moldingI fitting into one of said grooves against the fabric material.

2. An arm rest for a vehicle body, comprising a longitudinally curved upwardly opening channel shaped frame yhaving opposite side walls formed with longitudinal grooves to provide seats, a cushion pad fitting into the upper part of said frame and resting on said seats, fabric material covering said frame and pad, a molding fitting into one of said grooves against the fabric material, and a tacking strip for said material fitting into the other groove.

3. An arm rest for a vehicle door, comprising an upwardly opening channel shaped frame hav'- ing a bottom and spaced inner and outer side walls, projecting means pressed from the metal of said side walls and forming seats lying in a common plane within said frame, and a cushion pad tting into said frame and resting on said seats.

4. An arm rest for a vehicle door, comprising an upwardly opening channel shaped frame havving a bottom and spaced inner and outer side walls, said frame being curved to provide a hand grip intermediate the ends of the frame, projecting means pressed from the metal of said side walls and forming seats lying in a common plane within said frame, and a cushion pad fitting into said frame and resting on said seats.

5. An arm rest for a vehicle door, comprising an upwardly opening channel shaped frame having a bottom and spaced inner and outer side walls, projecting means pressed from the metal of said side walls and forming seats lying in a common plane within said frame, and a cushion pad fitting into said frame and resting on said seats, said frame comprising a pair of pressed metal members secured together in opposed relation.

6. An arm rest for a vehicle door, comprising an upwardly opening channel shaped frame having a'bottom and spaced inner and outer side walls, projecting means pressed from the metal of said side walls and forming seats lying in a common plane within said frame, and a cushion pad fitting into said frame and resting on said seats, said projecting means including a longitudinal groove adapted to receive a tacking strip for fabric covering.

7. An arm rest for a vehicle door, comprising a pair of generally angle shaped members having spaced correspondingly curved side walls and bottom angeg arranged in opposed relation, said members being secured together to form an upwardly opening channel, and a cushion pad fitting into said channel and including a foundation member seated upon projections formed from the metal of said members.

8. In an arm rest for a vehicle door, a pair ofV generally angle shaped members having spaced correspondingly curved side walls and bottom ilanges arranged in opposed relation, said members being secured together to form an upwardly opening channel, a pair of metal pieces joining the corresponding ends of said walls, and a cushion pad seated upon projections formed from the metal of said walls.

CLIFFORD B. DOTY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,221,748 Kohler Apr. '3, 1917 2,203,413 Hood June 4, 1940 2,325,292 Westrope June 27, 1943 

